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DESERT
Classics
From humble beginnings, this Dubai event has grown into a roaring success, driven by ambitious organisers and golfing superstars
By BRENDAN BARRATT
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The Women’s Open tees off at Royal Porthcawl
Framed by towering skyscrapers, the evolution of the Dubai Desert Classic seems to have followed the trajectory of the ever-expanding city itself. Where once the tournament was played on a remote stretch of sand, far from the growing metropolis, and in front of just 15 000 spectators, it's now surrounded on all sides by modern architecture. And the Rolex Series tournament is one of the flagship events on the DP World Tour, attracting the very best golfers on the planet.
It's a remarkable success story, and one that has close ties with South African golfers, who have achieved plenty of success on the famed Majlis Course. The great Ernie Els, a three- time winner of the Dubai Desert Classic, has a record that seems impossibly good.
Between 1993 and 2008, The Big Easy played 11 Dubai Desert Classics, and apart from his three victories, he also had a hat trick of runner-ups and three third-place finishes. His worst finish in this stretch – an eighth place, which came in his maiden appearance, back in 1993, in an event won by compatriot Wayne Westner.
It is therefore no surprise that Els referred to the Dubai Desert Classic as his favourite event on the Tour.
'I came here for the first time in 1993, and really enjoyed the course and the tournament,' he said. 'One year later I came into the week in decent form after a couple of good results in South Africa. On the first day I played with one of my heroes, Sandy Lyle, and shot a 61 – to this day, it remains one of the greatest days of my career.'
Els would have to wait eight years for his second title, but his four rounds in the sixties in the 2002 event was enough to secure a comfortable four-shot win over Nicklas Fasth.
Three years later he was on the podium once again.
SA'S TOP PERFORMERS
1st
Ernie Els
(1994, 2002, 2005),
Wayne Westner
(1993)
2nd
Retief Goosen
(1993),
Ernie Els
(2003, 2006, 2007),
James Kingston
(2011),
Richard Sterne
(2013),
Christiaan Bezuidenhout
(2020),
Brandon Stone
(2021)
3rd
Wayne Westner
(1994),
Ernie Els
(1998, 2004, 2008),
Louis Oosthuizen
(2008),
Dean Burmester
(2020)
'My third win, in 2005, I got a bit lucky on the last day,' Els recalled. 'On the 18th I pulled my tee shot left, but was fortunate to get a good lie in the desert. I had a line to the flag and managed to hit the green with my 3-iron, then sunk the putt for eagle to beat Miguel (Angel Jimenez) by one shot. So that was yet another great memory.
'As well as my three wins, I've also had quite a few close calls down the years, including when Tiger beat me in a play-off. I love coming back – one of the main reasons for that is the course. It's always in immaculate condition, and it plays to my strengths because I like to draw the ball. So it suited me from the moment I stepped onto the course in 1993.'
The duel with Woods in 2006 was crowd-pleasing theatre, with the two best golfers in the world going head-to-head down the stretch. Ultimately, however, the playoff proved to be an anti-climax, with Els' pulling his tee shot on the first extra hole into the rough. With Woods safely on the green for two, Els' approach shot came up short and found the water in front of the green.
'I had to hit that four iron perfectly, but I had half a decent lie, and it almost worked,' he said.
'A yard or two out. Just one of those things. That was my favourite tee shot of the whole tournament, I was five under on that hole for the week with an eagle and three birdies. I cannot complain, that was strongest field in the world that year, biggest week and to almost win it is fine.'
Els' affinity with Dubai certainly does not end with the Desert Classic, and The Els Club Dubai proudly bears the name of the World Golf Hall of Famer, who designed the award-winning golf course. It was recently recognised as the Best Golf Course in the UAE and Dubai at the 2025 World Golf Awards, and the Best Luxury Golfing Destination in the Middle East at the Global 100 Awards 2025.
Only Rory McIlroy's record in the Dubai Desert Classic can compare to that of Els. The Northern Irishman is gunning for his fifth title in his 20th start at the event. His first appearance, as a 17-year-old amateur, saw him miss the cut, but two years later McIlroy was the tournament's youngest-ever champion, claiming his maiden professional win ahead of a stacked field.
Now very much the face of the event, despite playing alongside plenty of big-name players and Ryder Cup stars, perhaps McIlroy will take a moment to look up at the towering skyscrapers that surround – and define – the course, and reflect on the history of this iconic event. Players like Els and Woods have helped pave the way to make the Dubai Desert Classic the success it is today.
EJ LANGNER | SUNSHINE TOUR | FACEBOOK.COM: EMIRATES GOLF CLUB
